Addressing machine



Mar. 13, 1923.,

C. CHISHOLM ADDRESSING MACHINE Original Filed Mar. 10, 1919 Ez vein C5279 U 2% w m mv flw v. some of Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

v A mean rtur OEFIQE,

CLIFTON CHISI-IOLM, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AI'IIERICAN MULTI GRAPH COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

annnnssme MACHINE. I

Application filed March 10, 1919, Serial No. 281,609. Renewed April 6, 1920. Serial No. 371,722.

7 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLIFTON CHLSHOLM', a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Addressing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In a certain type of addressing machine, such for example, as that shown and described in my prior Patent No. 1,285,622, there is a rotating cylindrical platen, and mechanism, associated therewith, by which envelopes are witl'idrawn one by one from a hopper and carried around in surface contact with said platen to printing mechanism; and there is also mechanism by which address plates are withdrawn one by one from av hopper and carried to said printing point at such a rate that each envelope will be met by an address plate and the two will pass together through the printing mechanism, with the result that the address on each plate will be printed on an envelope. In such machines, however, such as shown in my said prior patent, the envelope feeding mechanism may operate to. feed only .one envelope for each revolution of the platen and its shaft; or it. may operate to feed more than one envelope for each revolution of the platen; that is to say, there may i be a fast or a slow feeding of the envelopes to the printing mechanism without any change in the rate of revolution of the envelope feeding mechanism. Obviously, it is necessary that the address plates shall be carried to the printing point as fast as the envelopes are carried to it, whether the'envelopes are being fed at the fast or slow rate.

The present invention consists of simple, durable, and inexpensive means by which the address plates will be carried to the printing mechanism in synchronism with the envelopes whether the rate of envelope feed be fast or sloW,-a.ll as shown in the accompanyin drawings and hereinafter described and polnted out definitely in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation,

from the left side of Fig. 2', of the present invention and so much of the machine of said prior patent as is necessary to disclose g the manner of applying the present invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a. sectional end view ofsaid mechanism in. the plane of line 2-2 on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clutch mechanism to be presently described.

Referring to the par-ts by acters, 51 represents the main driving shaft reference charof an addressing machine, and 50 represents which is mounted upon a cylindrical platen This shaft carries enand fixed thereto.

velope feeding mechanismlsuch as is disclosed in said prior platen, including arms 55, pivoted to said shaft, and having lingers 58 for engaging the envelopes in a hopper (not shown). This envelope feeding mechanism, as described in said prior patent, will withdraw the envelopes one by one from the hopper and carry them around in surface contact with the platen to the printing plate therein; and these chains carry up wardly projecting lugs 61 which engage the lowest plate in the stack andwithdraw it and carry it along resting on said chains until it passes between the platen 50, and a printing roller 6d. Each chain runs over a sprocket wheel 68 mounted on a shaft 65, and over other sprocket 7 5 which are'fix'ed to a shaft 70. I

In the present invention the printing roller 64 is losely mounted on shaft 7 0 in such: po sition that when a plate carried along by said chains, and an envelope carried along with the platen pass between the platen and the printing roller, the plate and envelope will be pressed together and thereby dress on the plate is printed on the envelope.

The shaft 70' receives its motion fromthe main driving shaft 51 through either of two trains of gears, and means are provided by which either train maybe rendered operative. In the particular construction shown two intermeshing gears 71 and 72, are respeotively mounted on the shafts 51 and 70,the.latter gear being twice the diameter of the other. Two other intermeshing gears 73 and 7 8 of the same diameter are respectively mounted on the shafts 51 and 7 O. The ears 72 and 78 are, however, fixed tosha-ft 7 0, while the gears? 1, '7 3, are loosely mounted on the shaft 51,- A simple. clutch contrivance is provided by which either of these the ad their hubs lugs 77 which may be engaged by a T-shaped finger 80 which. isfixed to the outer end of an arm 81. This arm is fixed to an endwise movable rod which is mounted. coaxially within the shaft 51, and projects ut .of a slot 51* therein. By taking hold of its projecting end this rod may be pushed inward to connect the larger gear 73 with shaft 51 or outward to connect the smaller gear 71 with shaft 51, and it may also occupy an intermediate position which con nects neither gear to said shaft.

Having described my lnvention, I cla-1m:

1. In an addressing machine, he combination of printing mechanism, envelope feeding mechanism including a driving shaft therefor and mechanism operated by said shaft for carrying one or more envelopes to the printing mechanism during each revolution of said Shaft, with address platefeeding mechanism for carrying address plates linearly t0 and through the printing mechanism,-which address plate feeding mechanism includes a driving shaft therefor, two trains of gearing for transmitting motion from one of said shafts to the other, and means to render either train of gearing operative and the other inoperative.

2. In an addressing machine, the combination of envelope feeding mechanism including a driving shaft therefor, cylindrical platen fixed to said shaft, and mechanism operated by said shaft whereby one or more envelopes are carried to the printing mechanism in surface contact with said cylindrical platen during each revolution of said shaft, with address plate feeding mechanism for carrying address plates to and through the printing mechanism including a. driving shaft for, said plate feeding mechanism, a printing roller loosely mounted on the last mentioned shaft in printing relation to said platen, two trains of gearing for transmitting motion from one of said shafts to the other, and means to render either train of gearing operative and the other inoperative.

3. In an addressing machine, the combination of envelope feeding mechanism includ ing a driving shaft therefor a cylindrical platen fixed to said shaft and means operated by said shaft for carrying one or two envelopes to and through the printing mechanism in surface contact with said platen during'each revolution of said shaft, with address plate feeding mechanism including a driving shaft therefor, two sprocket Wheels fixed to said shaft, another shaft, two sprocket wheels fixed thereto, two endless sprocket chains which embrace said sprockets andhave outwardly projectingplateen gaging lugs, a plate hopper through the lower end of which the-upper stretches of said chains pass, a printing roller loosely mounted on one of said shafts between the sprocket wheels thereon and in printing re lation to said platen, two trains of gearing for transmitting motion from one of said shafts to the other, and means to render either train of gearing operative and the other inoperative.

4. In an addressing machine, the coinbination of envelope feeding mechanism including a driving shaft therefor a cylindrical platen fixed to said shaft and means operated by said shaft for carrying one or two envelopes to the printing mechanism during each revolution of said shaft, two gears of unequal diameter loosely mounted on said driving shaft, clutch mechanism by which to clutch either gear to said shaft, plate feeding mechanism for carrying address plates-t0 and through the printing mechanism including a driving shaft therefor, two gears of unequal size fixed to the last mentioned shaft and in mesh with the two first gears mentioned, and a printing roller loosely mounted on ,said shaft in printing relation with said platen.

5. In an addressing machine, the combination ofv printing mechanism, feeding mechanism for conveying impression receiving articles to the printing mechanism, mechanism for conveying address plates to said printing mechanism, means for synchronizing the movements of said two feed ing mechanisms, and means to change the elative rate of movement of said two feeding mechanisms. i

6. The combination of means for feeding an article, separatemeans for feeding ata different spcedanaddress plate into coacting posit-ion to act upon the article, and a member having the same angular speed as the article feeding means for feeding both the article and address plate after their coact-ion.

7. The combination of, a platen, means for feeding an article to be printed, means for feeding a different speed an address plate to act upon the article against the platen, and means whereby, after such action the article and the address plate are fed at the same angular speed as the article feeding means. I

8. The combination of means for feeding an article, additional means for feeding a printing member into position to impress the article, a rotary platen movable independently of the means for feeding the printing member and adapted to coact with the article feeding means, whereby thearticle and the printing'member may befedat the same angular speed.

9. In an addressing machine, the combination of mechanism for feeding address plates in a straight line to printing position,

Y to change the relative'rate of movement'of and means for feeding impression receiving articles into Cooperation with said address reference to that of the address plate co'nveying mechanism.

11. In an addressing machine, the combination of mechanism for feeding address plates and impression-receiving articles into cooperation, and mechanism adapted to make'the movement of the article feeding mechanism different multiples of that of the address plate feeding mechanism, and a platen adapted tolcoac't with the article feeding mechanism to receive a plate therebetween. said platen being movable independently of'the plate feeding mechanism.

12. In an addressingmachine, the combination of printing mechanism, movable 'mechanism; for conveying impression receiving articles to the" printing mechanism, movable mechanlsm for conveying address plates to said print ng mechanism, means said two conveying mechanisms, andan independently movable platen I adapted to press into printing contact.

13. The combination w tha pair of rollers, of independent means for feeding address 7 plates between them, means for feeding'impression receiving articles between them, and

means for varying the feed to. provide for a difierent number of articles for each rotation of the article feeding roller.

14. The combination with a pair of rollers, of means for feeding address plates be.- tween them, means for feeding impression receiving articles between them, the arti-- cles being fed at the same peripheral speed as the roller adjacent thereto while the plate may have. a different speed from that of the roller adjacent to it.

15. The combination of a pair of coacting rollers, an envelope feed associated'with one roller, a plate feed associated with the other roller, said other roller being adapted to partake of the speed of. the first roller notwithstanding a different speed of the plate-feeding mechanism. I

16. Means for printing comprising mech conveying j v of means'for feeding. a printingplate, means for feeding into conjunction therewith M1 175 7 the'plate and impression receiving article anism for conveyinga printing member, and mechanism for conveying an impression receiving member" into coaction, 'andj'a platen adapted'after coac tion is established to feed the printing member and'theimpression ireceiving member together faster than. the speed of the printing'member conveyor 17. In a printing device the combination article to beI-p'rinted, there being provision forthereafter feeding theatwoftogether at the speed of the article, and means for'c'ausing said speed tobe higher than that of the plate fee'ding'means'. i

18; The combination 1 of a rotary couple, means for feeding address'plates and paper I between them, the speedof rotation "of one I member of the couple being independent I of the speed ,of propulsion of the addressf iis plates, and means for adjusting such speed of propulsion with reference to the peripheral speed of the other member-of the couple.

19. The combination with a rotary paper feeding device, of means" for'r propelling' ii'o address plates into coaction with thefrotar'y feeder which acts as a platen fortl'ie address plates'and paper,-a-nd means foradjustingfi the speed ofpropulsion-of theaddressplates so that the peripheral speed of travel of" the platenmaybe the sa address plate propelling mechanism o'r a multiple thereof.

20. The icombinationj witn a" pairor, a3-

operating rollers-in proXimity-tocach other," 1 00 means at the opposite ends of one of the'rollers for feeding address plates between the rollers, means forffeeding' paper between the address plates andthebther roller, ,me'ans foryadjusting the speed of propulsion of th'ea'ddress plates, "with reference to" said 'other rollenthe speed of rotation of the first ;mentioned 1' roller fbeing independentv of *the speed of propulsion of the address plates;

21. The combination of a pair of conveying devices adapted'tofeed address plates, a roller between said devicesadapte'd to rotate independently of them, a rotarypaper feeding device cooperating with said roller,

and meansfor mutually adjusting the speed l of travelof said devices and-rotary paper feeder. 1 22. The combination of a pair of sprocket wheels, chains running over them and adapted to feed addressplates, aroller between the 1211 sprockets adapted to "rotate independently of them, a rotary paper feeding device 00- operatingwith said roller, and means for mutually adjusting the speed of rotation of the sprocket wheels and rotary paper feeder.

23. Inan addressing machine, the combination of printing mechanism, envelope 1 feeding mechanism includinga driving shaft therefor and, mechanism operated by said shaft for carrying fone'or more envelopes to Te .as'that of the v the )rintin mechanism durinn each revolul t) o dering either set'idle and the other active.

25. The combination of a rotary couple, means for feeding address plates and paper between them, the speed of rotation of one member of the couple being independent of the speed of propulsion of the address plates,

and a pluralityo'f sets of gears for adjusting such speed 'ofpropulsion with reference to the peripheral speed of the other member ofthe couple, and means for rendering either of said sets active and the rest idle.

26. The combination with a pair of: co-

,0 eratins rollers in )roXimit toeach other means at theopposite ends ofone of the rollers'for feeding address plates between the rollers, meansfor-feedmgpaper between the address plates and thepther roller, a plurality of selective sets of gearsfor adjusting the speed of propulsion of the address plates with reference to said other roller, the speed of rotation of the first mentioned roller be- I, ing independent of the speed of propulsion of the address plates. I I

27. In an addressing machine, the combination of envelope feeding mechanism including a cylindrical platen and mechanism operated therewith whereby one or more envelopes are carried to the printing mechanism in surface contact with said cylindrical platen during each revolution, with address plate feeding mechanism for carrying address plates to and through the printing resales mechanism, a printing roller loosely mounted in printing relation to said platen, two sets of gearing for transmitting motion from one of said feeding mechanisms to the other, and means to render either set of gearing operative and the other inoperative.

28. in an addressing machine, the combination, of envelope feeding mechanism including ashaft therefor, a cylindrical platen fixed to saidshaft and means operatedby said shaft for carrying'one or two envelopes to and through the printing mechanism in surface contact with said platen during each revolution of said shaft, with address plate feeding mechanism including a-se'condshaft, two sprocket wheels fixed to said second shaft, two other sprocket wheels, two endless sprocket chains which embrace said sprocket wheels and have outwardly projecting plateengaging lugs, a plate magazine through the lower end of which the upper stretches of said chains pass, a'platen roller loosely mounted on said second, shaft between the sprocket wheels thereon and in printing relation to the platen first mentioned, and means for variably transmitting motion from one of said shafts to the other. 7

29. In an addressing machine, the combination of envelope feeding mechanism including a shaft therefor, a cylindrical platen on said shaft and means operated by. said shaft for carrying one or two envelopes to the printing mechanism during each revolution of said shaft, two gears of unequal diameter loosely mounted on said shaft, plate feeding mechanism for carrying address plates to and through the printing mechanism including a shaft therefor, two gears of unequal diameter on the lastvm'entioned shaft and in mesh with the two first gears mentioned, two of the four gears mentioned being loose, and mechanism for clutching either of said loose gears to its shaft.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature;

- CLIFTON CHISHOLM, 

